BLINN BOARD AUTHORIZES SEEKING PROPOSALS FOR FURNITURE, EQUIPMENT AT WALLER CAMPUS ACADEMIC BUILDING

  

The Blinn Board of Trustees gave authorization on Tuesday for administrators to seek proposals for furniture, fixtures and equipment at the new Waller Campus’ first academic building. 

Blinn will now solicit proposals for furniture, audio/visual technology, information technology equipment, security equipment and other building amenities at the facility, which will serve as the foundation for the College’s 100-acre Waller Campus.

The $68 million, 82,000-square-foot facility is designed to accommodate approximately 2,500 students and will include features such as modern classrooms, teaching laboratories, student support spaces, administrative offices, meeting areas and food service.  Blinn broke ground on the campus in March.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities, Planning and Construction Mark Feldhake said the project budget includes $7.95 million for the furniture, fixtures and equipment, being paid for with Fiscal Year 2026 bond funds and unrestricted cash. 

Chancellor Dr. Mary Hensley said the construction manager at risk for the academic building project has completed excavation and compaction for the building pad and retention ponds.  She said crews have begun pouring concrete, and work is underway with underground sewer, plumbing and electrical.  Additionally, the College is coordinating the extension of utilities and fiber communication services to the campus.

Vice Chancellor for Student Services Dr. Becky McBride gave a preliminary enrollment report for the Summer II session, saying the student headcount came in at 3,498 students, down from 3,839 from the Summer II term in 2025.  She noted that the fall and spring semesters both saw higher enrollment in comparison to last year and that Blinn graduated more students throughout the year, including the College’s largest graduating class ever in May at 1,226 students.